What to expect when you visit a chiropractor or osteopath
Chiropractors and osteopaths are specialists in diagnosing and treating all types of musculoskeletal conditions (problems with the joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves of the body) from back, neck, shoulder & arm pain to hip & knee pain, osteoarthritis and pain associated with pregnancy & childcare.
To find out more about what to expect when you visit a chiropractor or osteopath for an initial consultation or treatment session, please see below. For details of our Covid-19 safety measures please click here.
Initial consultation
On your first visit to the clinic you will be given the opportunity to explain your symptoms and how they are affecting you. Your practitioner will discuss these with you and investigate the cause with neurological and orthopaedic tests. Xrays and MRI scans may be ordered if needed.
You will then be given a diagnosis, which will be carefully explained to you and your treatment options will be discussed. A suggested management plan will be drawn up tailored to your comfort and needs, and mindful of any concerns you may have.
Please ensure you fill out the online Patient Registration Form – a link to which will be included in your appointment confirmation email – prior to your initial consultation appointment.
Initial treatment
The initial focus of chiropractic or osteopathic treatment is pain relief, after which the emphasis will be on restoring normal function and alignment to your body by correcting the underlying problem. Our safe and gentle treatment techniques range from classic mobilisations and manipulations of stiff joints, muscles and tendons, to stretching and rehab exercises, cranial therapy and acupuncture for tension and pain. All treatment programmes are tailored to individual needs and we are always happy to discuss any concerns you may have in advance. Following treatment, you will be given advice and rehabilitation to help prevent the problem reoccurring.
Follow up treatments
Your chiropractor or osteopath will continue to re-assess and treat the complaint until it is fully resolved. Once resolved, where appropriate, we would then recommend patients continue to see us at regular intervals for maintenance treatments to help keep their bodies functioning at their best. However, this would always be at the patient’s discretion.
What to wear
The best clothing to wear for an initial consultation is something that allows free movement and stretching, so loose clothing or tracksuit bottoms / leggings and a sports top are ideal. You may be asked to remove some outer layers of clothing if they are likely to hinder our assessment of your movement or posture, so please wear appropriate underwear. However, please note gowns are available should you need one. Assessments are carried out in a private treatment room, and confidentiality and discretion will be observed at all times.
Want to know more?
We hope that this gives you a good idea of what to expect when you visit a chiropractor or osteopath at the Bristol Back Pain Clinic. If you do have any other questions, you may find our FAQs page useful, as it features answers to some of the most common questions we’re asked about treatment at the clinic such as ‘what’s the difference between a chiropractor and an osteopath?’. Alternatively, please just give us a call on 0117 9723518 and we’d be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.
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